My school choirs have a concert a week from tomorrow. I'm now into the "Oh, my gosh, there is no way we'll be ready in time for the concert" frame of mind. I usually don't worry too much about my groups, but this year I added a concert in October instead of waiting until December. I wanted to give my kids something to work toward right away. Unfortunately, I think it may have been a wrong choice on my part. Can I cancel it? Yes, but I don't want to unless I absolutely have to. The kids have all ordered new outfits, and they are so anxious for them to come in. If I canceled the concert, they wouldn't get to wear them until December. Well, at least I know they'll look good.
My job is at a K-12 laboratory school on the Ball State University campus. It is a relatively small school, with around 650 kids from K-12. Because it is small, and because I teach both elementary music and choirs, I only have one high school choir and one middle school choir. This puts grades 6-8 in my one middle school choir and grades 9-12 in my one high school choir. Consequently, I have some people who are seasoned veterans in there with kids that are newbies. Trying to find music for them that will keep everyone happy can sometimes be a challenge.
I was working with my high school choir today. They are actually sounding pretty good, at least as far as the notes go. As we all know, though, music is more than just the notes. Two of the songs we are singing are uptempo and need lots of energy. For some reason, I just haven't found the right thing to say or do that has helped them "get it." I've had them say the words in an intense whisper. I've had them bend up and down at the knees with the beat while they are singing. I've tried walking around in front of them and clapping my hands in an off-beat rhythm. Unfortunately, nothing I do or say seems to make a difference. I may be selfish, but I want more than just the notes. I want the energy. I want the excitement.
Either the kids don't want those things, or they don't know how to get there from here. I was talking to them today and trying to encourage them to keep working at finding that level of excitement. Then I stopped talking to them as a teacher and started talking to them as a fellow musician. I told them that I hoped more than anything that they could someday have an experience singing where the music takes their breath away, where it leaves them with goosebumps and chills. I have had those experiences, when my whole spiritual being is lifted to a higher place, where I don't want to breathe for fear of breaking the spell. It is a most awesome experience, and one that I hope they can someday share with me.
I don't think they will reach that level at this concert. Maybe not at the next...or the next. However, I do hope that they can someday experience it and come back and tell me about it, and we can marvel together at the special moment. I wish that more than anything.
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